Get the COVID vaccine ... there is the question

The phone rings and I see my mother's face turn her smile into deep sadness. Her voice breaks and she only manages to outline an "I'm so sorry, I'll be praying for him, for his soul and for our entire family." Another relative who has passed away, victim of COVID 19. One more relative that we will never see, touch, hug…. Another family member who could not get the coronavirus vaccine and who could not protect himself against this unfortunate virus that has already claimed so many lives.

While many families suffer the loss of a loved one and the inability to obtain a vaccine, there are other people living in the United States who refuse to receive the vaccine out of fear. Many immigrants dream of the vaccine while others avoid thinking about it, fearing that ICE will find them and deport them. What should we do? Should we get the vaccine? Should we avoid it? Looking for the vaccine that will expose me to ICE? We are in a pandemic, where will I get the money to pay for the vaccine? There are many questions and they all have an answer.

The first thing we should know is that the government is providing the vaccine for FREE and that it is FREE for all people living in the United States, with or without legal status, with or without papers. No matter what your immigration situation is, if you want to get the vaccine, you can do it when it is your turn and you will not have to pay anything.

The second thing to know is that vaccination centers do not ask about the legal status of any person. The vaccination centers only ask for an identification document that shows her age. If you are a foreigner and you have a document from your native country, this document must have a photo, your name and your date of birth and that will be enough for you to receive the vaccine. These days there have been complaints from people who have been rejected when they have presented themselves at the vaccination center for not having an ID from the city or state where they reside, but the authorities have stressed that these events have been errors and that People do not need to have official government identity documents but with their identification from their country they will be able to access the vaccine.

In addition, to emphasize that immigrants will be able to access the vaccine, the agency in charge of the vaccination process (FEMA) announced that the deportation office (ICE) will not approach the vaccination centers or by chance. In short, ICE will not approach immigrants or search for them in vaccination centers or receive information from people who get vaccinated, and then go after them. If you are an immigrant, you have no excuse not to get the vaccine, please do so.

The coronavirus has killed thousands of people, the vaccine will save millions of lives. However, the vaccine will only allow us to return to the new normal if all citizens, residents, and undocumented immigrants are vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is not only an opportunity to avoid the risk of getting sick with covid but it is also an opportunity to protect our loved ones. If today, you are thinking about whether or not to get the vaccine, put your doubts aside and choose to make an act of love towards your loved ones. Do not do it for yourself only, do it for all the people who are in contact with you and who deserve to live despite COVID and its dire consequences.

I count the days to get to the moment when I can go out without masks, I count the days to return to greet my relatives with hugs and kisses that fill my soul. If you long for family reunions as much as I miss them, please get vaccinated as soon as possible, and let's count the days together to get back to normal.